Abstract: A device that can pierce and hold tissue and then pass suture through tissue. The device can have a shuttle that can removably attach to a suture and jaws that can be rotatably opened and closed with respect to each other. The device can have a first jaw having a first jaw channel and a first jaw first stop. The shuttle can have a shuttle longitudinal axis and a shuttle first stop. The shuttle first stop can have a shuttle first stop distal end. The shuttle first stop distal end can be deflectable into the first jaw first stop. When the shuttle first stop distal end is in contact with the first jaw first stop, the shuttle can be passively retained in the first jaw. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site.

Abstract: A method for fine grain casting prealloyed metal comprising the steps of providing first and second electrodes within an enclosed chamber, said first and second electrodes being spaced so as to form a gap between them, at least one of said electrodes being an ingot having a composition corresponding to the composition of a prealloyed continuous casting to be formed; and heating said electrodes to a temperature sufficient to melt said at least one electrode into molten metal which falls from said at least one electrode into a mold wherein the molten metal is at least partially solidified; wherein the improvement comprises causing said molten metal to fall directly from said at least one electrode into a mold so as to result in a casting having a fine grained structure.